Artificial grass comes with a big upfront cost — R70 to R310 per square metre, installed. Once it’s down, it’s free for the next 8 to 15 years.

Professionally laid natural grass, on the other hand, costs only R40 to R60 per square metre. But that’s where expenditures (and upkeep) begin. You’ve got to water, mow, fertilize — all of which cost money and take time.

What are the Good Points of Artificial Grass?

The Southern Nevada Water Authority says a home owner saves 550 liters of water per year for every square metre of natural grass replaced with artificial grass.

You’ve got to blow off leaves and other debris, and hose off pet waste. But there’s no mowing, seeding, edging, and fertilizing — lawn maintenance chores that take the average home owner about 150 hours per year, says Ted Steinberg, author of “American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn.”